Electronic Report Distribution (iKnow Reports) User Guide
- IFS Energy and Resources (Deactivated)
- IFS Energy & Resources (Deactivated)
- Bobby Lo (Unlicensed)
iKnow Reports Overview
iIDEAS is an integrated suite of web-enabled applications that implement a new vision of financial management. These applications enable organizations to significantly improve productivity by leveraging the global networking capabilities of the World Wide Web.
As the web-enabling component of the IFS IDEAS for Windows (IFW) Financial Management System, iIDEAS extends the reach of the financial management system to managers and content providers wherever they may be.
iKnow is an analytical and information application that provides up-to-date financial information for any company operation at any time.
Modules to Set Up Before iKnow
It is necessary to set up the IFS IDEAS for Windows General Ledger and Security modules before setting up the iIDEAS Administration module.
iKnow Reports
iKnow Reports provides the means to distribute IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer reports electronically over the internet or an intranet.
Using Electronic Report Distribution
In order to use iIDEAS Electronic Report Distribution (iKnow Reports) several configuration steps are needed. Once properly configured, IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Reports may be published for iKnow Reports retrieval. The following describes the configuration and operation of IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer for Electronic Report Distribution.
Creating the Electronic Report Library
Published IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer output is saved to a designated directory. Reports may be saved for up to one accounting year.
To define the Electronic Report Library, create a directory on a server that is accessible to the webserver.
Note: The Electronic Report Library must be a location that is accessible to the webserver to ensure that iIDEAS users will have access to the referenced reports. Generally, reports should be saved to the webserver or to a database server attached to the webserver. Avoid referencing reports saved only on a workstation. These reports will not be available if the workstation is shut down and performance delays may result when recalling these reports.
FRW writes out the html reports to the path in Field 2.
iIDEAS picks up the reports from Field 1.
Ensure that the path in Field 1 is a URL path pointing to the same location.
To set the parameter, select the Code HTLMDIR from the drop-down list in IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer > Tools > FRW Misc.
Set Field 1 to the desired path name.
The directory path information provided must be the full UNC (\\servername\sharename\directory\filename).
Publishing Financial Report Writer Reports
To publish IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer output, select the HTML checkbox on the Output Panel and the iIDEAS checkbox in the Options panel on the Financial Report Writer > Reports > Report Generation form.
Publishing Multiple Page Output from a Single Report
Often, IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Reports are designed to produce multiple logical pages from a single report. For example, a page for each department. Typically, these pages are intended for distribution to different individuals. To accommodate this, a setting is available to burst multiple page reports into separate physical files. The setting is found in IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer > Tools > FRW Misc.
To set the parameter:
Select the Code HTLMPAGING from the drop-down list in IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer > Tools > FRW Misc.
Set Field 1 to TRUE.
Security for Published Reports
A security option is available which will restrict report distribution to designated recipients. The implementation of this feature requires that the IFS IDEAS for Windows Enhanced Security option be installed. See the separate documentation discussing the implementation of Enhanced Security for Report Writer reports.
Completing the iKnow Reports Form
To complete the iKnow Reports form, type the period number of interest in the Period box and click GO. A list of available reports you are authorized to view for the selected period will be provided.
To view a report, click the hyperlink for that report.
Using the iKnow Reports Results Pane
The selected report will be presented in a separate browser window. To view the report, use the scroll bar of the browser.
Browser features to search, print or export to Microsoft Office products are enabled.
Export to Excel Feature
Some screens in this module may have an Export to Excel button incorporated in the screen or an export to excel icon ()in the toolbar.
The user can click this button or icon to export the raw report data directly to an Excel spreadsheet, bypassing the report.
This feature is useful as it allows clients to use Excel features (for example, pivot tables, etc.) to organize the data as desired.
iKnow
iKnow provides the capability to inquire and report relevant information from your financial system. From any Internet connection, use iKnow to display up-to-date information related to any operation. Information is filtered by user-specified parameters and limited to the information authorized for the specific user.
iKnow Financials
iKnow Financials provides the capability to view revenue, expenditure, profit and loss and balance sheet information and provides an automatic budget comparison and variance analysis. You may limit views by time period and by any dimension of the Financial Database.
Completing the iKnow Financials Form
To obtain an iKnow Financials report, complete the form as described below and click Show Me.
Report Type – Select one of the report type options by clicking the option button.
Report Area – The elements of the default database will be displayed.
You may filter the report by selecting a value from the drop-down list for one or more of the displayed elements.
To do this, click the magnifying glass icon, highlight the desired value and click OK.
Type of Data – Select a data type for Actual and Budget Amounts and for the desired Accounting Period.
To do this, select a value from the drop-down list. Select the Year to Date checkbox to obtain a cumulative value through the selected period.
Sample iKnow Financials Report
iKnow Payables
iKnow Accounts Payable provides the capability to view accounts payable transactions, the associated invoice detail, and any related attachments. You may limit views by time period, currency, vendor, or approver.
Completing the iKnow Payables form
To obtain an iKnow Accounts Payable report, complete the form as described below and click the GO button adjacent to Display Invoices.
Company – Enter a company code or select a company from the drop-down list.
To obtain a report for all entities, select the All Entities checkbox.
Currency – Enter a currency code or select a currency from the drop-down list.
To obtain a report for all currencies, select the All Currencies checkbox.
Start Date – Enter a Start and End date in the format mmddyyyy.
Vendor – To limit the report to a selected vendor, enter a vendor code or select a value the drop-down list.
To do this, click the magnifying glass icon, highlight the desired value and click OK.
Approver – To limit the report to a selected approver, enter an approver code or select a value the drop-down list.
To do this click the magnifying glass icon, highlight the desired value and click OK.
iKnow Financial Report Writer
iKnow Reports provides the means to distribute IFS IDEAS for Windows Financial Report Writer reports electronically over the internet or an intranet.
Completing the iKnow Financial Report Writer
To complete the iKnow Reports form, type the period number of interest in the Period box and click GO.
A list of available reports you are authorized to view for the selected period will be provided.
To view a report, click the hyperlink for that report.
Copyright© 2024 IFS AB. Copying prohibited. All rights reserved.